All life was silent; a mechanical clock's ticking was the only lifeless noise bouncing from the black walls. Surrounded by possibly half a dozen hidden muzzles, the air suffocated all those within. The door behind them was closed, sealed off from the outside world. Only a dim white hue and the endless beams from beyond the station illuminated the room.

It's been quite a while. Eliza kept calm, or at least tried to, simply glancing up at Cyrus. He seemed to be thinking about something. Hopefully, Noah will be back soon. His disappearance has been noted—even by Obadiah, who placed both his hands together.

"Where is he…" Eliza muttered the question to herself.

"Ahem..." Obadiah tapped his desk impatiently, his eyes ensnared on Eliza and Cyrus. "Let's begin, then?" He placed a finger to the collar of his formal tunic, adorned with his brooch and many golden decorations.

"Not until Noah comes back," Eliza stated. "He's an integral part of the reason why I am here to begin with."

Obadiah shook his head. "But not the reason why you remain, in the worst-case scenario: those that attacked before have seized Mister Slyra-Montageu. You want something from me, I need something from you... The information I will tell you will change everything," he said. "Can you shoulder my knowledge?"

Eliza had no clue what Obadiah knew. As tempting as it is, she cannot give in to the desire for knowledge, Noah must be here for her! She just… needs his assistance. She gripped the hem of her crimson-red dress, shaking her head. "Whether I am is irrelevant. I will not believe that he has been attacked of now of all places and times, we only start when he comes back."

Hard negotiating! Eliza was new to politics, perhaps some beginner's luck or intuition would help her through this… Still, Eliza was also uneased by Noah's… lacking presence.

"It's been ten minutes..." Obadiah said. He kept impatiently tapping his desk with increasing veracity. "I am afraid that we do not have time for this..."

Lady Antiar glanced from Eliza to Cyrus then down to Obadiah. From what Eliza sees, she seems to be trying to keep Eliza calm. "Obadiah. Do not overstep your boundaries with this, remember that. You cannot force this to go through, not within these halls."

Obadiah quickly nodded, before lighting a cigar. He started smoking within the office, ignoring everyone around him. "Yes... yes. Boundaries, we are all confined by the rules, Lady Antiar, even you - but you are under my guise within these specific walls."

He flicked up a coin. He twirled it on his index finger. He then shows both sides to Eliza, then to Cyrus, then to Lady Antiar... On one side was a crescent moon, with chains binding it to the outer perimeter of the coin. Meanwhile, the other side had a leviathan's skull, adorned and surrounded by human skulls.

It wasn't a standardi coin of the Republic, or of any nation… Republic coins had the passant unicorn on one side and the leviathan's head on the other.

The people around Eliza stiffened, however. Eliza raised one eye to Cyrus. Cyrus stiffened, eyes wide and glaring forward, tapping Eliza very gently on the shoulder. 'Be ready for anything,' he muttered quietly to her.

Lady Antiar had a different response, one of reluctance. She took the coin and gently placed it facing skulls up. "There will be no need for that here."

"I believe there is," Obadiah said. "As the Third Triarch of the Mischief Board, I, Obadiah Cariana-Slynt, cast my blood coin. I command you, Lady Antiar Kelebori of the Imperial Knights - fifth of the seven criminals."

He looked to Lady Antiar. She merely gave him a dismissive nod. "You have no idea what you're doing, do you?"

"I'm protecting myself," he snarled. He kept tapping his hand against the desk, before flipping the coin up - a gleam skimmed off its golden surface into Eliza's eyes. It looked as if it was a method of maintaining his composure. "And everyone here. Are you a witness to these events?"

"I am," Lady Antiar said coldly. "Sadly."

Obadiah slowly smirked whilst nodding. "Good..."

It seemed like they were having a conversation of their own; however Eliza had no idea what they just did, and that struck Eliza with a bout of anxiety. Eliza turned to Cyrus, leaning backwards slightly. "Cyrus, what did he just do?"

Cyrus kept his face forward, slowly lowering himself to speak to Eliza carefully. Just what did Obadiah do? "Triarchic Coin. They're essentially decrees from members of the Board's top brass. Obadiah is a Triarch of the Board... Eliza, I recommend we both vacate ourselves..."

Eliza nodded, slowly turning to Obadiah. A Triarch of the Board? The Mischief Board... Lady Antiar's a member of the Seven Criminals. But she couldn't abandon this opportunity, this was her chance to prove herself!

For her, by herself, to prove to them all! She bit on that chance and would not let go, no matter what happens she must see this through.

But what now? Lady Antiar… What would Lady Antiar do? Eliza perhaps had misjudged Lady Antiar… but Lady Antiar would not go against the Marquis, would she?

Lady Antiar's always been speaking of honour and her prestige to Eliza when they spoke before. Will she go back to those words? But what is honourable in this situation? To protect her and Cyrus... or to follow the orders of Obadiah? It was an obvious answer to Eliza, her mind quivered at the thought of what someone like Lady Antiar would see it - she said that those in their profession are less than sane…

How would she deal with this? Eliza looked at the Knight's pale face, staring past the façade of the noble knight and trying to understand something… anything at all. Amber conflict brewed.

"I..." Eliza started to speak. Those eyes were all Eliza needed to convince her… She had to find Noah, everything would be calm after that! The threatening situation sept into Eliza's mind. This was no longer a haven protected by Lady Antiar… Perhaps it'd be a cage… or even a coffin. "I am going to leave. We can enter into negotiations at a later date. I must find Noah..."

She slowly stood up. Synthia projected onto Eliza's shoulder. 'This is a very bad situation you've got yourself into... I can't make the decision for you, Eliza, but think carefully,' Synthia said. 'If you want… I can call for assistance.'

'No! I can do this myself,' Eliza spoke silently. Eliza can't focus on Synthia. Not now, she thought. She turned her projector off, cutting Synthia as if she was just about to say something else.

Stolen story; please report.

'I—'

"Sit," ordered Obadiah. He pointed Eliza to the chair she was just sitting on. She froze, staring down at the judging hand of Obadiah.

Eliza shook her head. "I'm leaving, I... do not feel comfortable in this location. I will return once I am, and with Noah accompanying me once again."

"I placed my coin. I order you to sit," Obadiah snarled. "Lest what snatched him up may snatch you up as well!"

Cyrus bellowed into the conversation, "Elizabeth Mary Celeste-Delmara is not beholden to the Mischief Board. We are civilians. We are leaving. Under the terms of the BCA-Board conduct agreements... I advise you to think carefully."

He placed his hands in front of him. Eliza slowly looked around the room. Her spectacles zoomed in on a small drop of sweat rolling down a guard's cheek. Where's Noah? Did he betray her? Was she betrayed again?

A swelling feeling of wrath formed up in Eliza, before being dispelled by logic. Noah wouldn't betray her. He must have been tricked as well.

Lady Antiar remained beside Obadiah's side. She said, "Eliza, please sit. I can guarantee your safety if you do." The Knight sounded like she was begging for their lives at this point

Eliza doesn't know if Lady Antiar will keep her word under this. She trusts Lady Antiar, yes... She's a Knight dedicated to protecting the innocent, but with this new revelation: Eliza's view of her was misconstrued.

Could she even trust Lady Antiar at this point? The entropic situation kept degrading Eliza's mind. She could barely think of anything beyond the most simple assertions: she must get out of here. It is unsafe.

"My apologies. We're leaving," Eliza stated. Obadiah's eyes thinned at her. She could hear the faint rising breathing of Cyrus behind her. Vicious eyes were set against them, including Obadiah's - but not Lady Antiar's.

She looked at Eliza with a pained expression. Obadiah sighed, shaking his head. He looked towards Eliza, then back at Cyrus, scoffing at the giant before glancing down at Eliza again. "Eliza, who do you think is your enemy?"

"Huh?" The question dumbfounded the Genius of Sarimba. For a second, she thought of answering that it was Obadiah who was her enemy, but in his own presence? Eliza had no idea if it was a foolish plan or a bold one… Boldly foolish?

She simply wanted out, and Eliza was coming to quickly realise: she was not ready. This was bad. Survival instincts kicked in and the fingers started to fly… Stupid… Eliza kept calling herself names, knowing full well that she just got herself into a situation of her own making.

Bad blood was in the air. Eliza couldn't answer the question without at least angering Obadiah. She has no idea who to name. But then, Eliza's eyes caught another glimpse of the gleam of the coin.

Eliza raised her hand and extended a pale, nail-painted finger at the coin Obadiah held to.

Obadiah glanced at the coin, then said, "This? Do you think the Board's your enemy? No... We're just the rule makers, Eliza. It's why we and the BCA are called the Shields against Entropy. We create order. From disorder. No! Your enemy is someone more discreet…"

Discreet? Obadiah was her enemy. He was the enemy, Eliza knew that to be true yet couldn't muster the courage to name him as such. Foolish. Foolish Eliza! She tried to move her legs, but they remained planted on the carpeted floor.

Dead eyes were set on Eliza. It stank of desperation. Eliza didn't want to stay long enough to understand why. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

He slowly nodded and chuckled. "We're all pawns, I have no choice. If I let you leave: I die. The eyes are closing in, Elizabeth! Can you see them?! All coming to kill us!"

Madness seemed more common than reason in Obadiah… His ramblings only made Eliza even more uncomfortable.

Taking a step back, Eliza's mind scrambled to position, unthinkable conclusions. Cyrus followed suit, placing himself in front of her. Small and subtle movements were made across the room with the half a dozen guards standing there.

Some of the guards were worried, the others had their eyes closed. She could even hear one muttering an Erudian prayer…

"We're leaving," Cyrus said. "Do not stop us."

Eliza took another step backwards. Just then, Obadiah shifted up in his seat. "Not another step!" he shouted. "Dammit… Dammit! This was a setup! You're a part of this aren't you!?"

Obadiah rose from his seat, pointing a finger at Eliza. He was quivering across his whole body… Eliza didn't know how to respond, only quivering in return for words.

"Noah… Dammit, I should have known his parents would betray me," Obadiah remarked. "And you… how did he get you here… Without the Contract-Breaker?"

His eyes grew darker - growing and staring.

"I…"

"No. No. I get it… This has to be a set-up," Obadiah concluded. "Do not let them leave.;"

In under a second, Eliza felt something sweep her legs. She fell onto the ground as bolts cracked above. Her head crashed against the floor, aching in pain for a second before Eliza grumbled with the strength to steady herself. She glanced up, wondering what the hell was going on!? She saw Cyrus above her, deflecting bolts with an electron shield attached to his forearm. The guards in the room fired upon him.

He seemed to be overwhelmed.

Eliza was overwhelmed by the sight, as the ringing of bolts sent harrowing thoughts through her mind. One of the guards got too close to Cyrus. Cyrus unsheathed his great sword and sliced them in two.

"We. Are. Leaving!" Cyrus shouted.

The guards kept piling forward, trying to wither him down with bolts. Though their bolts kept flicking off Cyrus' armoured suit and shield.

Throwing himself into action, Cyrus outfought all that opposed him, weaving beneath lethal shots and weathering the rest.

Despite his size, Eliza could only describe his swift movements as akin to a ballet dancer, able to duck and weave, slice and kill with such precision. Cyrus glanced down at Eliza for a moment within the firefight.

His skills at fighting looked far more impressive than Václavos or Nihara… This was Kazuki's head guard… A moment of thanks to him washed over, before being bolted down by her determination.

This was the one persona Kazuki could trust to protect her.

She was shaking, hugging the floor. Cyrus has to win! They have to get the hell out of here! Hope filled her eyes as Cyrus finished the last one, disarming them before using their own pistol. The last guard fell - and only Lady Antiar and Obadiah remained.

'ARBITER, THIS IS HUSCARL! WE NEED BACKUP!' Cyrus shouted into his uplink.

Cyrus had blotches of blood on him, yet the sight wasn't as gory as Eliza expected… He must have been holding back for her sake… Eliza smiled at that thought. Cyrus glanced down at Eliza, as she slowly shifted herself past the bodies, trying to get back to her feet He extended a hand to her. Thank fuck... Eliza breathed a calm sigh… Help is on the way! But… Kazuki… How could she ever face hi—

Cyrus' mouth opened. "E—"

A red liquid splashed onto Eliza's face.

Silence permeated through the room. Something had stopped him... Just then, Eliza's ears caught a small lowing hum that rebounded across the room. She saw blood splatter out both sides of Cyrus' head... Something mushy, brain matter, bled out from him.

Eliza froze. Cyrus dropped dead beside her.

Using all her might, she twisted her neck to the side, seeing Cyrus' corpse beside her. Wait... No... This wasn't supposed to happen!

Cyrus was dead. There were dead bodies all around Eliza. She rushed backwards, scurrying to the wall, her eyes were pinned onto Cyrus' bleeding corpse.

Who… Obadiah! Eliza dragged her eyes up at Obadiah and Lady Antiar.

Obadiah had pulled a gun on Cyrus. Plasma smoke was still bellowing out the barrel, before sliding the pistol beneath his cloaked suit. Lady Antiar merely ignored all she saw, standing still - a pale white statue of a Knight. With an additional flick, Eliza felt her uplink turn off…

No help was coming.. was it?

"Now then," Obadiah said. "We have no more distractions... We begin our negotiations, now. Get used to this… Because either we both die, or no one dies."

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